Some shows suck, and some shows barely avoid sucking. Austin Lee seems capable of great things while failing by a long mile. The paintings depict brightly hued, crying, Gumby-like cartoon figures. They are clearly intended to be emotive but fail to elicit emotion; the distortions are too random or formal to create an impact. The paint application is fussy and workman-like, so an accompanying video piece—depicting claymation figures in intense, iridescent light—ironically has more physicality than the paintings or sculptures surrounding it. That video would be mesmerizing if it were less repetitive.

Austin Lee: Psychomachia
Jeffrey Deitch
7000 Santa Monica Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90038
On view through October 26, 2024